Returning to Minnesota a year after taking charge of the U.S. women`s national team, Emma Hayes was seen interacting with a young family in the locker room hallway after a press conference. She took time to chat, pose for photos with their daughters, asking playful questions, and signing souvenir towels before leaving. This brief interaction is symbolic of the significant shift Hayes` appointment a year ago brought to U.S. Soccer. Unlike previous managers, she possesses a public profile that rivals that of her star players.
The USWNT has long been a major source of pride in American soccer, known for its rich history of success including four World Cups and five Olympic gold medals, consistently drawing crowds worldwide. The team is a premier sports entertainment product for U.S. soccer fans, and Hayes is now one of its prominent figures.
Expectations were immediate after Hayes secured her first wins as the official head coach of the U.S. women`s national team in June 2024. Friendly matches against South Korea in Denver and Minneapolis marked the dawn of a new era for the USWNT under her management.
Impact On and Off the Field
Following a disappointing performance at the 2023 FIFA Women`s World Cup, U.S. Soccer hired Hayes in November 2023, and she was on the sidelines coaching within weeks, just ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games. The renowned former Chelsea FC manager, who won six Women`s Super League titles and two UEFA Women`s Coach of the Year awards, stepped into the role leading a historically successful national team. However, the squad she took over was in a period of transition, with veteran stars having retired or nearing the end of their careers. Despite these roster changes, the expectation for the USWNT program has remained constant: win, and keep winning.
One year into her tenure, Hayes has not only met these high expectations but has exceeded them. She has consistently emphasized process and patience since her arrival, yet remarkably led the team to Olympic gold in Paris after only 75 days on the job. She has successfully managed the dual challenge of integrating new players and building for the future while simultaneously achieving immediate victory.
Reflecting on her first year as USWNT manager, Hayes shared her biggest lesson:
“I think the biggest thing I`ve learned is that you`ve got to maximize the moments you have with the players. Because you have so few, and I`ve learned there`s multiple ways you can maximize that, and not just when you`ve only got 10-day camps and big chunks in between. Be innovative about how you can accelerate learning. I`ve always enjoyed innovating ways of doing that, but I definitely think maximizing the moments is the thing I`ve learned the most.”
After the USWNT`s Olympic gold medal triumph and a well-deserved break, Hayes quickly turned her focus to the 2027-28 cycle. She outlined plans for 2025 to expand the player pool through `futures camps` and by reactivating a dormant U-23 program to develop alongside senior team activities. As part of her commitment to innovation, she introduced `The WNT Way.` Its guiding principle, as she explained to the media in February, is to place “the female lens at the heart of everything we do.”
Hayes` overarching vision for the WNT Way is to be more than just a coaching philosophy. While competing for trophies is paramount, she also aspires to fundamentally reshape the entire WNT ecosystem. She highlighted that much of the current strategic thinking in soccer is simply adapted from men`s programs and applied to women`s soccer. With the WNT Way, she aims to shift perspectives and create lasting change and opportunities for women through a comprehensive, 360-degree approach. This initiative is as ambitious as Hayes herself, designed to positively impact players and their environments through multiple systems and channels. It`s primarily player-focused, but Hayes also desires a more sustainable future for women coaches, referees, and the sports science dedicated to caring for female athletes. This project represents a much longer-term commitment than simply managing the top-ranked team for the next international cycle. Perhaps a key aspect of her lasting influence has been her ability to connect with multiple generations of players within her first year.
Expanding the Roster While Preserving USWNT Identity
In Hayes` first year as manager, 23 players received their initial call-ups to national team camps. This includes recent additions like Orlando Pride defender Kerry Abello and Kansas City Current midfielder Lo`eau LaBonta in the summer window. In her 22 matches on the sideline, 19 players have made their official national team debuts. This is more debuts than the 18 seen under her predecessor, Vlatko Andonovski, throughout his entire three-year tenure. Hayes nearly set a record for debuts in her first 20 matches, with 17 players making their first appearance, second only to the early years of the women`s national team between 1986 and 1988.
Teenage sensation Lily Yohannes, a 17-year-old midfielder, is among the next generation players called into USWNT camps. Yohannes also made her senior debut under Hayes a year ago. The young prospect has accumulated eight appearances and scored one goal, featuring in every camp roster in 2025. While showcasing her talent, Hayes has been deliberate in managing public expectations for Yohannes, recognizing she is still at the beginning of her international career. This approach has created a less pressurized environment for the teenager.
Yohannes commented on Hayes` coaching style:
“I think Emma makes it really clear what she expects from me, and as well as for the team. Every camp, we just continue to build on that, and with every different opponent and different style of play, we try to adapt, and that`s just something that you try and to bring into your game and help the team.”
Whether it`s expanding the player pool, evaluating prospects, or developing off-field initiatives, Hayes has also invested significant effort in developing individuals. Regarding team leaders, Hayes has been open about her commitment to helping players grow and maintains an open door for feedback. She has held leadership discussions with team captain Lindsey Horan, along with Sam Coffey, Tierna Davidson, Emily Sonnett, Naomi Girma, and others.
Naomi Girma, now in her fourth year with the national team, became a USWNT regular during her outstanding 2022 NWSL season where she was named Rookie and Defender of the Year. She is no longer just an emerging talent but a crucial current figure who sought Hayes` advice regarding her significant transfer to Chelsea FC. The 2023 U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year was appointed vice captain earlier this year.
Speaking about Hayes` impact over the past year, Girma said:
“Obviously, there`s so much that you see on the pitch, and how we`re playing, and winning a gold medal, and all that. But I think probably even the bigger impact is what she`s doing behind the scenes. Making sure that U.S. Soccer has a way of developing young players, making sure that they`re getting seen, making sure that they`re understanding how we want to play, and understanding our principles. I think that`s something that is going to help us in the next couple of years, but also in the next like five to 10 years, too.”
Lindsey Horan has worn the captain`s armband since 2023, frequently addressing questions about the squad`s experience level as several former teammates and captains retired. Horan credits Hayes with helping her develop not just as a player but specifically in her leadership role.
Horan commented on Hayes` influence in her first year:
“I think it`s probably [on] more of my role as a captain. What she`s given me and the relationship I`ve had with her. I think it`s something that I haven`t really experienced. It`s just, it`s really crucial to have that kind of role as a captain and a head coach and to bounce things off of each other. But also trust. To go to her when things need to be said, and her, vice versa. So, I think that`s the feeling that I`ve gotten in the past year, and in the Olympics as well.”
Charting the Future Path
Beyond restoring the USWNT to its formidable status after a lackluster World Cup, Hayes has demonstrated that she was the ideal choice for the position, not only for success at the 2024 Olympic Games but also for resetting the program`s direction. During her initial media appearances a year ago, she stated, “We`ve got work to do,” and the English coach has been tirelessly working ever since.
Discussing her most significant lessons from her first year as manager, Hayes emphasized the preciousness of time:
“You don’t have [time]. You cannot waste a single session, a single opportunity, because you have so few at the international level. And surround yourself with amazing people.” She added, “I`m so blessed that, not just that leadership, but the people we are putting into positions across WNT and YNT, has made me more excited for a long, long time. Because we`re bringing so many different innovations into the women`s game, the girls` game. Anything from mental skill development to female health, menstrual cycle support, whatever it might be. So, so, excited about it.”
Looking Ahead
As Hayes and her coaching staff reach the midway point of 2025, they will continue building towards the 2027-28 cycle with more scheduled matches and ongoing player evaluations. Following victories over China and Jamaica, the USWNT returned to winning ways after an April loss to Brazil. The team is set to host Ireland for two friendlies, on June 26 in Commerce City, Colorado, and June 29 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Another summer match against Canada is scheduled for July 2. Further friendly fixtures for the remainder of the year will be announced later. As Hayes highlights, every moment counts, and every minute matters, as the team has approximately 17 months before World Cup qualifying competitions begin. The Concacaf W Championship, which offers direct qualification spots to the region`s top two ranked nations, is scheduled to start in November 2026.
Benedict Kingsley